Akim Aliu | RMNB

NHL postpones two days of playoff games due to police brutality and systemic racism after inaction the night before

The NHL postponed its playoff games on Thursday and Friday after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sparked outrage and Black Lives Matter protests across the country. Blake was shot seven times in the back by police in front of his own children.

Wednesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks started a movement, and refused to play Game Five of its first-round series against the Orlando Magic due to the shooting. Soon after, the NBA postponed games between the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers. Other leagues followed hours later. Three WNBA games (including your Washington Mystics), five Major League Soccer games, and three Major Baseball games were called off in solidarity with the Bucks. Many NFL teams also canceled practices.

The NHL, which consists of only 29 active Black players according to Wikipedia, played its games as scheduled. The league made a course correction nearly 24 hours later, but according to the Hockey Diversity Alliance, the decision was sparked by several players still playing who reached out asking for advice on what to do.

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By Ian Oland 2 years ago

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Alex Ovechkin throws support behind Hockey Diversity Alliance in powerful HNIC opening

Alex Ovechkin was part of Hockey Night In Canada’s powerful opening last night.

The nearly four-minute intro, set to Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, put a spotlight on the Black Lives Matter movement and the newly formed Hockey Diversity Alliance, whose goal is to eradicate systemic racism in the sport and change the face of hockey. The opener aired hours after Matt Dumba became the first player to kneel during the national anthem of the Blackhawks-Oilers game.

Former Capitals forward Joel Ward and Devante Smith-Pelly were also featured in the clip.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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Joel Ward among seven Black NHLers on new Hockey Diversity Alliance: ‘Our mission is to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey’

Seven current and former Black NHL players, including recently retired former Capital Joel Ward, have formed the Hockey Diversity Alliance. The mission of the group is to “eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey” and “be a force for positive change not only within our game of hockey but also within society.”

The Hockey Diversity Alliance will work independently of the NHL but hopes to work closely with the league to achieve these goals.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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These NHL players have spoken out about racism and the death of George Floyd

George Floyd died on May 25, after a police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes. His death has sparked sorrow and protests across the country, demanding meaningful change. While many high-profile athletes have shared their opinions on the event, including LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick, the NHL has been relatively quiet.

Two Black players, JT Brown and Evander Kane, were the first to speak up. In an interview with ESPN’s First Take, Kane called on other high profile athletes “like Tom Brady and Sidney Crosby” to do something.

“We need so many more athletes–that don’t look like me–speaking out about this,” he said, “having the same amount of outrage that I have inside, and using that to voice their opinion, to voice their frustration, because that’s the only way it’s going to change.”

Since that time, more NHL players–both white and Black–have added their voices to the call for change. Here’s who they are and what they had to say.

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By Brennin Weiswerda 3 years ago

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Bill Peters sidelined but not fired as Flames head coach after revelations of racist comments towards Akim Aliu

Bill Peters has been sidelined as head coach of the Calgary Flames as the team continues an investigation with the NHL on the coach’s conduct more than a decade ago.

Akim Aliu, a Nigerian-born former NHL player and current free agent, revealed through tweets and media interviews this week that Peters directed multiple racial slurs at him while the two were together in the Chicago Blackhawks organization.

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By Ian Oland 3 years ago

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